A record year for schools

THE headteacher of Reading's best performing state school has denied exams are getting easier -as schools in the town celebrate record-breaking results.

Pupils at Reading School were among the top in the country, coming 13th in the national league tables. Students at the Erleigh Road school achieved an all-time high this year with 98.4 per cent of all grades passed at A to E - 71.8 per cent of which were As and Bs.

Kendrick Girls' Grammar School, where 42 per cent of students achieved A grades came 47th. The Holt School in Wokingham, The Forest School in Winnersh, Emmbrook in Wokingham, The Piggott School in Wargrave and Maiden Erlegh in Earley also made the Daily Telegraph's top 500 state schools.

Reading School headteacher Andrew Linnell said: "My view is that the standards are not going down. It is still difficult to get in to the best universities."

And early indications show many Reading schools have notched up great improvements.

Flying the flag for comprehensives was Prospect Technology College in Honey End Lane where results have seen a 50 per cent rise in grade A to E passes over three years. In 1998 the pass rate was 62.3 per cent - now it is 89.4 per cent. Last year 33 per cent of exams were graded A to C - this year the figure topped 54 per cent.

At Southcote's Hugh Faringdon results rocketed from 82 per cent in 2000 to 90.1 per cent this year, with more than half at grades A to C. Theale Green notched up an impressive performance with 91 per cent A to E, against last year's 83.5 per cent.

Headteacher Chris Gittins said: "We are absolutely delighted for the students who have worked hard to achieve such good results.

"As for anyone who is still droning on about A or AS exams being easy they should simply come and see the hard work students have put in to their studies and try taking the paper themselves.

"Then perhaps they will realise that standards are truly rising."

Maiden Erlegh School, off Silverdale Road in Earley, also recorded a 91 per cent pass rate.

Denefield School in Long Lane, Tilehurst, improved on last year's 85.6 per cent pass rate with a 87.9 per cent score, half of which were grades A to C.

And The Willink, in Burghfield Common, notched up a similar improvement moving from 94 per cent to 96 per cent. However, percentage of exams passed at higher grades slipped from 63 per cent to 54 per cent.

Headteacher Barbara Wynn said: "Congratulations to all concerned. Once again we are very proud of all our students and staff."

Girls at the independent Abbey School achieved a perfect 100 per cent pass rate, while Reading School in Erleigh Road achieved an all-time high of 98.4 per cent.

It achieved its second highest rate of 71.8 per cent of exams passed at grades A and B.

Kendrick School in London Road - a girls' grammar - achieved an overall pass rate of 98 per cent and 62 per cent As and Bs, down on last year's 100 per cent record.

Headteacher Marsha Elms said: "Our results are slightly down on last year, although we are still waiting for eight results to come in.

"The girls have still done extremely well and we are very pleased. There will always be fluctuations from one year to the next."

One star student at Little Heath School in Tilehurst came in the top five for maths in the country.

Alisdair - who was rejected by Oxford University -was ranked by examination board AQA as best in Britain for maths and applied maths.

Headteacher Clive Rolls said: "We are very proud. This is a new maths school record."

The school's overall pass was marginally down from last year, with 92.3 per cent against 93 per cent. Two students - each with four As - Edward Humphries and Richard Stebbings have university places at Oxford.

Thatcham's Kennet School dropped from last year's 98 per cent to a still respectable 90.9 per cent and Highdown maintained a pass rate of over 90 per cent, with 13 subjects achieving 100 per cent passes.

Reading Borough Councillor Peter Jones, said early indications were the borough was bridging the gap between local and national standards.

He said: "I would like to add my thanks and congratulations to all staff, pupils and parents involved in this year's results."

Results are yet to come in from Meadway, Reading Girls', Thamesbridge, Waingels' Copse, Bulmershe and The Piggot.